Religious, Cultural, Culture, Identity, And Australian Identity

24 million beer guts? 24 million shrimp on the barbie? Or 24 million who make up the most culturally diverse nation in the world? I don’t know about you, but I struggle to stereotype 24 million of the most different people on the planet. Good morning… etc. In contemporary society, the ability to identify an Australian is a challenge. The ABC states that national identities are “as varied as our imagination” and, “In Australia, the religious, cultural and ethnic complexity of our society is particularly diverse, making it extremely difficult to identify an Australian”. What would you look for if you were asked to identify an Australian? Tanned skin? Beer gut? Freckles? Wrong wrong wrong! You can’t identify an Australian based on a stereotypical image! According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, “75% of Australia’s population originates from overseas, or has a parent from overseas” (ABOE, 2016), making it impossible to identify what an Australian looks like. We Aussies share more than a hatred for cane toads and bits of butter in the vegemite. We share moral values and beliefs unique to our great nation. Belief in a fair go, never give up mindset, and courage. A character from the movie Australia, absolutely epitomizes the Australian identity. The man. The myth. The legend. The Drover.

Given the diversity of Australia and the increase in multiculturalism, the definition of the true Australian identity has changed over time. However, I believe the two main characteristics

The concept of being a ‘nation of immigrants’ is at the center of Australian identity.

We 're all Australians, regardless of our ethnic background, political and religious beliefs (NSW Department of Education, 2015).

Australia is a young, modern country made up of a diverse and multicultural population, therefore, it’s difficult to say that it has a single national identity. This essay will examine what Australia’s identity may look like, specifically, through art.

Australia’s identity has always been a complicated one. Starting with Aboriginal genocide, 1800’s cowboys and villains, two world wars and a bunch of poems describing them, it makes it difficult to conclude on what being an ‘Aussie’ really is. Thankfully, the two thought-provoking poems Nobody Calls Me a Wog Anymore by Komninos Zervos, and My Country by Dorothea Mackellar both use their discerning selection of themes to reflect modern attitudes in some extent. Along with their themes, Nobody Calls Me a Wog Anymore and My Country both use their story to capture the attributes modern Australians possess to some degree.

Identity is a very important part of being Australian; it is a feeling of being associated with a national group, defined by a common heritage, which may be based on many attributes, including race, territory, language and history. "The Men of the Open Spaces", written be Will H. Ogilvie addresses these issues of Australian identity, constructing a powerful representation of the Australian 'bush ' culture. The text uses past views of popular culture that are still ubiquitous today, to construct a sense of national ideology. The text focuses on a very traditional concept of nationhood and constructs a stereotypical representation of Australian culture. This essay will explore this in relation to the discourses

The ‘colonisation' of Australia by Europeans has caused a lot of problem for the local Aborigines. It drastically reduced their population, damaged ancient family ties, and removed thousands of Aboriginal people from the land they had lived on for centuries. In many cases, the loss of land can mean more than just physical displacement. Because land is so much connected to history and spirituality, the loss of it can lead to a loss of identity. This paper will examine the works of Tim Rowse and Jeremy Beckett as well as other symbols of identity that are available to modern Aborigines in post colonial Australia.

Is it the bush, kangaroos and the red sand? Or is the scorching sun, beach and sunscreen? These images are often used to describe Australia but what about the Australian identity? Throughout the various stages of Australian history, Australians have attempted to grab onto an identity that makes them unique and able to bond with another fellow Australian. This has not always been easy, given the diversity that has grown over the centuries and the definition of the true Australian identity has changed over time. The typical Australian is known to be “fair, laid back, democratic and having a dry and anti-authoritarian sense of humour. These descriptions are often identified with Australians who are born in this country, however there is more

Culture is always changing. Beliefs, behaviours and presentation, religion and language all form part of what is an individual’s or community’s culture. (Bowes, Grace, & Hodge, 2012, p.75 & 77). Due to its intrinsic nature, when people migrate to Australia, they bring their culture with them. As migrants come from all over the world, and not the one place, their

It is applied indiscriminately within the Australian media to label array of factors seen as threatening to national identity, way of life or values. This uncomplimentary use of Americanisation sees Australia as adopting social practices and cultural values which originates in the United States. (Bennett 1999)

Religion in Australia has continually evolved since the beginning of the country’s existence (Reference). Originally, the traditional owners of Australia, Indigenous Australians, believed in the Dreamtime, and the idea that the

Australia has always been centered around diversity and change, specifically with the vast multiculturalism and migrant culture throughout the nation. The specifics of Identity hold an important role in shaping our identity as students and as a nation. Australians pride themselves on being a land of the free and full of diverse culture. This is specifically referred to in our national Anthem; “For those who've come across the seas, We've boundless plains to share; With courage let us all combine,”(McCormick, 1984). Displaying Australia’s open attitude towards immigrants and contributes to the diversity present within our society today. Even before this, much of Australia’s Identity was associated with caucasian culture (Originating from British Settlers). Which is the dominant perception of Australia through the media with australian representation being present through the stereotypes of Bogans, which was made popular through shows like Kath and Kim (ABC, 2007). Also, represented through the popular depiction of Australian people - the bushman made popular by movies like Crocodile Dundee (Faiman, 1986) and through famous real life bushman; Steve Irwin. An important aspect of Australian identity which is consistently neglected is the culture and representation of the initial owners of the land; the aboriginal people. Throughout history the constant mistreatment and neglect of the indigenous, has lead to a massive gap in privilege between the aboriginal people and our

Multiculturalism is reflected in various areas in Australia such as their food, languages, cultural practices, their lifestyles and so on. Migrated people bring their traditional food habits, preparation, and cooking methods. Many Australians like to use chopsticks and love to eat Italian pizza and

Today, Australia is a multi-cultural society and a variety of the Italian foods and drinks which altered the Australian cuisine, since their migration and are now currently the largest cultural group in Australia.